Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-27
To the Legislature.
70 The Edifor of The Dispatch :


To INC Editor Of the Dispatch
The circumstances attending the pas
sage Of the joint resolution authorizing
the appointment of committee to con-
fer with n committee OF the foreign
bondholders' association with reference
to settlement OF the public debt, and
the determined purpose manifested IN
the House and outside of it TO exclude
a large element OF the Democratic party
from representation on the joint com
mittee. and the tone of a large number
OF Democratic papers since the com
mission was appointed, have made
profound impression on and created
grave apprehension in the pub
lie mind. The apprehension is that
majority of the Legislature is
prepared TO abandon the Riddlebcrger
settlement, and are anxious to do so.
and that the members OF the joint com
mittee were selected because of their
opposition to and hatred of the Riddle
berger settlement, and that the result
of the conference will be another
McCulloch blunder and party disaster.
The only member OF the House branch
of the Joint committee who ever had
any sympathy with the move to read
Just the debt settlements Of lS71-'79
has disclosed during this session OF the
Legislature that the Riddleberger set.
Element was humbug and cheat, and
this declaration, it is believed, secured
him place upon the committee.
The passage of the Riddleberger bill
and its endorsement by the conventions
OF both political parties and by all OF
the people of the State at the polls set
tied two questions and placed them be-
yond dispute.
First. 1t settled the just and equita-
bic proposition of the debt of the old
State of Virginia that shall be assumed
and paid by the new State-to wit,
81, 900, 000-and it fixed the nate of in
terest that the new State will pay on
the said amount-to wit, 3 per centum
per annnm.
Second. 1t settled the question OF
the fixed and unslterable purpose of
the people to stand by and forever
maintain the reserved right of the
State TO control generally her internal
affairs, and especially her sovereign
right of taxation in her own way aud
that they (the people, will resist with
all their power the execution of the
tax-receivable. coupon feature of the
funding bills of 1S71-'79, which asserts
the power OF a Legislature to make
contract which shall be superior to the
obligations imposed by the Constitu-
ton and the right OF the State to per
petuate its existence and that they will
never tolerate the incorporation of that
odious and unconstitutional feature in
any settlement OF the debt question.
The Democratic party at Lynchburg
made q solemn declaration to the world
that it would acquiesce IN the Riddle
berger settlement. Upon this pledge it
went before the people in 1888, and
convincing the people that the pledge
was made in good faith they restored
the party to power. The Legislature
then elected by joint resolution an:
nounced its unalterable purpose aud
that of the party to stand by the Bid
dleberger settlement. Then again the
party by its convention assembled in
Richmond in 1885 reafiirmed its pur-
pose TO stand firmly to the Riddle
berger settlement. Upon that declara
ton and pledge the people again in
vested the party with power, and upon
that platform Governor Lee and this
Legislature were elected, and this Lee
gislature at its last session declared its
solemn purpose TO stand by the Riddle
berger bill.
Now, if in the face of these oft-re-
peated pledges Of the party to the peo-
pie. and of its own pledge last session,
1t shall even entertain any new propO-
sition of settlement that looks to the
payment of a greater amount OF the
debt than that ascertained by the Rid
dleberger bill, or that shall recognize
and attempt to continue the coupon
feature, viii it not bring upon the party
the condemnation, disgrace, and pun
ishment that such treachery would de-
serve? Would not such conduct prove
the party utterly devoid of honor and
unworthy the confidence Of the people?
Then | warn the Legislature against
any change of the Riddleberger settle
ment. l know the Riddleberger bill is
a bitter pill to many who fought it so
long but if they achieved victory by
pretending to swallow it, will it not be
better for them to avoid defeat by
swallowing it sure enough and in good
faith would be glad to say word
about the petitiOn Mr. Cooper wheedled
some Richmond people into signing.
Arnr